Carmel panel will look at wine-shop regulations

A boom in wine-tasting shops in Carmel will come under scrutiny Tuesday at a special workshop of the city Planning Commission.

The commission will weigh whether a 3-year-old city policy on wine-tasting shops should be changed in light of "a marked increase" in wine shops in Carmel's commercial district.

Since the 2011 policy was adopted, 18 applications for wine-tasting establishments have been filed with the city and 11 have been approved, a commission report says. Five of the applications came in during the first three months of this year.

And more are ready to be uncorked.

"Over the last few months, the city has received an uptick in inquiries regarding potential new establishments," said senior planner Marc Wiener in a report.

Last fall, a commission subcommittee was given the job of making recommendations on whether the current policy is fine or in need of change.

The commission report notes that while the primary purpose of the city's existing policy is to foster sales of wine for off-site consumption, many of Carmel's wine-tasting shops "still present somewhat of a bar-like appearance."

Seating and tasting areas may need more restrictions, the report says. The commission may also want to consider an overall cap on tasting shops and push up closing time from 10 p.m. to 7 or 8 p.m.

Another possibility is limiting the number of tasting events allowed at wine shops, the report says. Or requiring wines with a certain percentage of grapes grown in Monterey County.

The commission also will review licensing rules under the state Alcohol Beverage Control department.